Transportation unit carrier



Oct. 12, 1954 w. E. ROSENBAUM TRANSPORTATION UNIT CARRIER Filed Feb. 7, 1947 A I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 may 5;

1954 w. E. ROSENBAUM TRANSPORTATION UNIT CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1947 //V\/ENT02: WILL/HM E. Rosa/5211M, .B/W /no yw 58 HTT EME/s.

Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to multiple transportation unit carriers so designed that the transportation units thereof become, in carrier or transportation language, integral parts of the carrier base, and more particularly to the mechanism of such multiple transportation unit carriers by which the transportation units achieve mobilit in respect to the carrier base and by which the transportation units are guided during individual movement and are anchored in place on the carrier base for carrier movement.

There has long existed a need for an improved multiple transportation unit carrier by which loads, particularly less than carloads lots, can be readily exchanged between the same or different type carriers, and in which freight or cargo of any description may be safely shipped from initial shipment point to destination without handling of the freight or cargo itself while in transit, for example, from a production line at point of origin until actually delivered to the ultimate consumer at point of destination. More particularly, there has long existed a need for an improved package or container by which packages can readily be adapted for transport, from factories, farms, etc., to the ultimate consignee, via different means of carriage, so that said means become integral parts of the package and eliminate the necessity for the manual handling thereof, from the production line at point of origin, for example, until actually delivered to the ultimate consumer at point of destination. Transportation units and carrier bases heretofore provided have been deficient in many respects, particularly in the lack of mechanism for interchange or movement of the transportation units from carrier base to carrier base, or from platform to carrier base and return, or the like, and in the provision of automatic and practical means for retaining the transportation units in place on a carrier base after interchange from one carrier base to another, or from a loading platform to a carrier base. Cranes, and the like, have been used to bodily move transportation units in the interchange between carrier bases, or to and from platforms, but, manifestly, the cost of installing and maintaining such devices is expensive to the point of rendering impractical the installation and operation at thousands of railway stations and loading docks of the many more thousands of expensive cranes, derricks, and other similar equipment heretofore necessary for the proper movement bodily of such transportation units in the process of interchange.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel, multiple transportation unit carrier incorporating mechanism for moving the transportation units between carrier bases, from platforms to carrier bases and return, and the like.

Another object is to provide a novel multiple transportation unit carrier incorporating a 00- operating construction maintaining the transportation units in place on the carrier base and effecting, in transportation parlance, an integral vehicle.

Another object is to provide a novel multiple transportation unit carrier which incorporates simple, positive power-actuated mechanism to render the transportation units mobile in respect to the carrier base and which is effective to prevent transverse movement of the transportation units in respect to the carrier base when mechanism is idle.

Other objects are to provide a novel multiple transportation unit carrier which is sturdy in construction, which is inexpensive in respect to construction and use, which may be readily and easily manipulated in respect to movement of the individual transportation units, which is adapted to be employed in multiple capacities, and which can be employed with maximum efficiency with minimum instruction and expense.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of a railroad marshaling yard showing sections of a number of parallel tracks, a portion of a loading platform, and transportation unit carriers incorporating the teachings of the present invention being shown;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of two types of transportation unit carriers incorporating the teachings of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a novel transportation unit track spanner;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View thereof;

Fig. 5 is an enlargedcross-sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view substantially on the line 5-6 of Fig. '7, illustrating one form of the present novel movement and retaining mechanism of the transportation unit carrier;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical cross section, of a portion of a transportation unit carrier incorporating the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of segments of two transportation unit carriers disposed side by side for transfer of transportation units therebetween carrier bases;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on substantiall the line 9-9 of Fig. 10 of another form of transportation unit carrier construction embodying the present invention, the same form being shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of the transportation unit carrier shown in Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, and referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 26 indicates generally a railway multiple transportation unit carrier and 22 a truck multiple transportation unit carrier: constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Each carrier 26 and 22 includes, broadly, transportation units 24 and a carrier base 26.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a railway marshaling yard including a loading platform 28, a shed 36, and five parallel railway tracks 32. A truck multiple transportation unit carrier 22 is shown to the left of the platform 28, and several railway multiple transportation unit carriers 2:) are shown on the tracks 32. Several strategically located power units 34 for moving the transportation units are shown, power units 34 preferably being mobile. In Fig. 2 a railway multiple transportation unit carrier 20 and a truck multiple transportation unit carrier 22 are disclosed in parallel adjacent relationship with one transportation unit 24 partially transferred from the railway carrier base 26 to the truck carrier base 26. The truck carrier 22 may be provided with a power take-off (not shown) for effecting movement of the transportation units 24 to and from its carrier base 26 and the platform 28 or railway carrier bases 26 and the like.

It is with the mechanism for effecting mobility of the transportation unit 2 4 in respect to the carrier base 26 and for guiding such movement and for retaining the transportation unit 24 in place on its carrier base 26 that the present invention particularly appertains. In Figs. 6 through 8 is shown one form of such mechanism. An I beam 36 is secured by suitable bolt assemblies =38 to the bottom 40 of each transportation unit 24. The I beam 36 includes lower flanges 42 to the outer faces of which is secured a rack 44 by welding 46 or the like. The transportation unit 24 includes spaced wheels 48 which may be of the caster type if desired. The particular shape of the transportation unit 24 forms no part of the present invention, although one preferred configuration is shown in Fig. 2 which comprises a rectangular body having double doors at opposite sides. Manifestly, for different types of freight, different types of transportation units will be employed; i. e., tank transportation units for liquids, refrigeration transportation units for perishables, flat transportation units for heavy machinery and the like, and other types.

The railway carrier base 26 preferably is of skeleton construction and includes outer longitudinal upper frame members 54 and a central longitudinal upper frame member 56, which are supported by any suitable substructure from the usual railway freight car trucks (not shown). Pairs of spaced track members 58 are disposed transversely of and are supported on the frame members 54 and 56, being secured thereto by welding or the like. Each pair of track members 58 receives the wheels 48 of a transportation unit 24. Substantially centrally of each pair of track members 58 is a pair of opposed Z members 60 which are secured to the frame members 54 and 56 by bolts 62 extending through lower flanges 64 of the Z members 60. As is clear from the drawings, upper flanges 66 of the 2 members 66 are spaced from each other to provide in effect a housing for the rack M and the flanges 42 and a transverse opening for the flanges of the I beam 36. Extending between each frame member 54 and the frame member 56 beneath the Z members 68 are transverse frame members 61 having an opening 68 in each through which extends a gear 76 mounted on and secured to a shaft 12 having bearing support in bearings M secured to the frame members 6! by suitable bolts 16, or the like.

Also splined to or otherwise secured to the shaft 12 is a driven gear 18 which is engaged by a worm wheel 86 formed integral with or secured to a shaft 82 having rotatable bearing support in spaced bearings 84 secured to the frame members 54 and 56 by suitable bolt assemblies 86, or the like. At each end of the shaft 82 is a suitable connector 88 adapted to receive a complementary connector 66 of 2. flexible shaft 92 or a complementary connector 64 of a connector shaft 96.

It is clear from Fig. '1 that the gears 16 engage the rack 4 4 when a transportation unit 24 is mounted on the railway carrier base 26. A small clearance exists between the inner faces of the upper flanges 66 of the 2 members 60 and the inner faces of the flanges 32 of the I beam 36 to permit free movement of the transportation unit 24 to and from the carrier base 26. However, it is preferred to maintain such clearance less than the engaging depth of the teeth of the gear 70 and the rack '44 so that this engagement of the teeth of the gear 16 and the rack M may be employed as a stop to prevent transverse movement of the transportation unit 24 relative to the carrier base 25 when the gear it and its associated drive elements are at rest. Suitable locking means (not shown) may be provided to insure a positive continued rest position of the gear '16 and its driving elements should the same be desired, or found necessary in particular installations.

In Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10 is shown another important form of the present invention, which is simplified over the form shown in Figs. 6 through 8. Like reference numerals indicate the same parts in both disclosed forms to expedite a clear understanding. The I beam 36 and the rack 44 are the same as shown in Figs. 6 through 8, except the teeth of the rack 48 are angularly disposed, as is clearly shown in Fig. 9, to directly receive in driving relation the threads of the worm gear 86, which is mounted directly therebeneath, thereby eliminating the gears 18 and '18, the shaft '12 and the bearings supporting the same forming part of the first described form.

As is indicated in Fig. 1, 2 member 66 and worm wheel equipped shafts 82 may be secured to the platform 28 for movement of transportation units 24 directly across under power of a power unit 34. Such construction may be flush with the surface of the platform 28 or inlaid. Further, such construction may be extended on the platform 28 and elsewhere as desired. Manifestly, transportation units 24 may be pulled by tractors or the like where no tracks are provided or desired.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is shown a preferred form of bridge I00 for spanning the gap betweenlongitudinally aligned track members 58. The bridge I00 may be of any selected length and includes at each end several fingers I02 which are several inches in length and which fit into slots I04 provided in the free ends of the track members 58. Side walls I06 are provided to guide the wheels 43 of a transportation unit 24 moving across the bridge I60, although such side walls I06 may be dispensed with when the present constructions are used if not required to insure sufiicient strength for the bridge I00, since the Z members 60 of the carrier base 26, in cooperation with the I beam 36 of the transportation unit 24, prevent movement of the transportation unit 24 transversely of the bridge I00.

Operation It is clear from the foregoing description taken with the accompanying drawings that the transportation units 24 may be power exchanged between carrier bases 26 or between a loading platform 28 and a carrier base 26, and the like, through the medium of the present novel mechanism; that in such movement the transportation unit 24 is guided against lateral deviation from the direction of movement; that the transportation unit 24 is restrained against vertical displacement relative to the carrier base 26, which is particularly important during movement of a transportation unit carrier 20; and that the actuating mechanism itself through operative mesh serves as a stop means to prevent the transportation unit 24 from rolling off the carrier base 26 once it is in position thereon.

Assuming that a railway multiple transportation unit carrier 20, including a number of transportation units 24, is on a siding such as is shown in Fig. 2, and that it is desired to transfer one or more transportation units 24 to a truck carrier base 26, it is but necessary to park the truck carrier base 26 parallel with and adjacent to the railway carrier 20, apply bridges I00 between the adjacent carrier bases 26 to join aligned track members 58, connect aligned shafts 82 with a segmental connector 96, and connect either free end of the connected shafts 82 to the flexible shaft 92 of a power unit 34 or truck power takeolf which may be preferable at certain loading points. Energization of the power unit 34 will rotate the shafts 82 to rapidly move the transportation unit 24 from the railway carrier base 26 (Fig. 2) to the truck carrier base 26. The functionings of the several provided mechanisms to effect this movement are manifest from an inspection of either Figs. 6 through 8 or Figs. 9 and 10, either mechanism serving to perform the job. During the movement of a transportation unit 24, as aforesaid, the Z members 60 of the carrier base 26, in cooperation with the I beam 36 of the transportation unit 24, guide the transportation unit 24 in a substantially straight line, and it is manifest that such relationship will prevent vertical displacement of the transportation unit 24 in respect to the carrier base 26 when the carrier 20 is employed in commerce, and that locking of the power train will effectually prevent movement of the transportation unit 24 laterally of the carrier base 26.

It is clear that it may be preferable to construct some carrier bases with the transportation unit supporting and drive means disposed longitudinally thereof. Such may be a preferred construction for some truck carriers, or the like, particularly where side loading is difiicult .and end loading facilities are available.

.. It is manifest that therehas been provided a novel mechanism which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the several parts, substitution of equivalent elements, and rearrangement of parts, which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A transportation unit carrier comprising, in combination, a mobile carrier base, a mobile transportation unit, supporting means on said carrier base receiving said transportation unit, cooperating means secured to said carrier base and to said transportation unit for moving the latter relative to the former when powered, and cooperating means secured to said transportation unit and to said carrier base permitting movement of the former laterally of the latter as desired and restraining movement of the former vertically and longitudinally of the former, including a flanged elongated member secured to one of said transportation unit and carrier base and cooperating flanged members secured to the other adapted to form a housing for the said flanged elongated member.

I 2. A transportation unit carrier comprising, in combination, a mobile carrier base, a mobile transportation unit, supporting means on said carrier base receiving said transportation unit, cooperating means secured to said carrier base and to said transportation unit for moving the latter relative to the former when powered, and cooperating means secured to said transportation unit and to said carrier base permitting movement of the former laterally of the latter as desired and restraining movement of the former vertically and longitudinally of the former, including an I beam secured to said transportation unit and a pair of cooperating Z members secured to said carrier base.

;3. A transportation unit carrier comprising, in combination, a mobile carrier base, a mobile transportation unit, supporting means on said carrier base receiving said transportation unit, cooperating means secured to said carrier base and to said transportation unit for moving the latter relative to the former when powered, and an I beam member secured to one of said carrier base and said transportation unit and opposed members forming a chamber for said I beam member and secured to the other of said transportation unit and said carrier base for cooperative engagement to guide the former in movement transversely of the latter and to maintain said former against movement vertically and longitudinally of the latter.

4. A transportation system comprising, in combination, a plurality of mobile carrier bases disposed in parallel relation, transversely disposed supporting means forming part of each carrier base for receiving'individual mobile transportation package units, removable bridge means between selected aligned supporting means, individualmobile transportation package units on said supporting means, spaced driven power means on each carrier base for moving said mobile units transversely of said carrier bases, driven power means on each mobile unit engageable with driven power means on carrier bases, removable interconnecting members secured to selected aligned driven power means of said parallel carrier bases, a power unit, and a power connection between said power unit and one end driven power means of said selected interconnected aligned driven power means whereby all interconnected carrier base driven power means aligned with said one end driven power means are simultaneously driven and one or more mobile units may be power moved transversely of said carrier bases.

5. A transportation system as set forth in claim 4 in which each carrier base includes one or more mobile unit supporting means, each carrier base including driven power means adjacent each supporting means, retaining members secured to each carrier base adjacent each supporting means disposed transversely of the respective carrier base, and a member on the bottom of each mobile unit engageable with retaining members of a carrier base, said retaining members and member permitting movement of the respective mobile unit transversely of the carrier base and preventing vertical and longitudinal movement of said mobile unit relative to the carrier base.

6. A transportation system as set forth in claim 4 in which each driven power means of each carrier base includes a shaft and spaced worm wheels and the driven power means of each mobile unit includes a rack secured to the bottom thereof which is in engagement with the spaced worm wheels of a carrier base driven power means when the mobile unit is disposed on a supporting means of a carrier base.

7. A transportation system comprising, in combination, a plurality of mobile carrier bases disposed in parallel relation, transversely disposed supportin means forming part of each carrier base for receiving individual mobile transportation package units, removable bridge means between selected aligned supporting means, individual mobile transportation package units on said supporting means, spaced driven power means on each carrier base for moving said mobile units transversely of said carrier bases, driven power means on each mobile unit engage-able with driven power means on carrier bases, disconnectible means connecting selected aligned driven power means of said parallel carrier bases, at power unit, and a power connection between said power unit and one end driven power means of said selected interconnected aligned driven power means whereby all interconnected carrier base driven power means aligned with said one end driven power means are simultaneously driven and one or more mobile units may be power moved transversely of said carrier bases.

8. A transportation unit carrier comprising, in combination, a mobile carrier base, a mobile transportation unit, supporting means on said carrier base receiving said transportation unit, a flanged structural member secured to the bottom of said transportation unit, a rack secured to said member, a worm gear supported on said carrier base in meshing relation with the rack on said transportation unit when said transportation unit is on said carrier base, means for drivin said worm gear, and means for guiding said transportation unit in movement to and from position on said carrier base and for retaining the former against vertical movement in respect to the latter including flanged members secured to said carrier base and forming a split housing restrainingly receiving a portion of said structural member and said rack.

9. A transportation unit carrier comprising, in combination, a mobile carrier base, a mobile transportation unit, supporting means on said carrier base receiving said transportation unit, a flanged structural member secured to the bottom of said transportation unit, a rack secured to said member, a worm gear supported on said carrier base in meshing relation with the rack on said transportation unit when said transportation unit is on said carrier base, means for driving said worm gear, said worm gear locking said transportation unit against movement laterally of said carrier base, and means for guiding said transportation unit in movement to and from position on said carrier base and for retaining the former against vertical movement in respect to the latter including flanged members secured to said carrier base and forming a split housing restrainingly receiving a portion of said structural member and said rack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 318,026 Pusey May 19, 1885 1,293,664 Avery Feb. 11, 1919 1,298,285 Bogaty Mar. 25, 1919 1,403,568 Rodowicz Jan. 17, 1922 1,448,057 Denehie Mar. 13, 1923 1,713,459 Withyman May 14, 1929 1,784,975 Rosman Dec. 16, 1930 1,830,740 Leech et a1. Nov. 3, 1931 1,862,632 Perin June 14, 1932 2,036,336 Kellett -1 Apr. 7, 1936 2,127,480 Fitch Aug. 16, 1938 2,150,371 Furnish Mar, 14, 1939 2,467,354 Baldwin Apr. 12, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 114,792 Great Britain Apr. 18, 1918 

